Why is Reed Sheppard still not starting?

For anyone that doesn't watch the games or doesn't see certain actions, just watch when Reed is in the game with Sengun (doesn't happen much). Anytime Sengun has the ball in the paint and Reed is close, they NEVER help off Reed which means Sengun gets to go 1 on 1 with no help.

Sadly, most times it's Amen's defender that comes help and we generate open 3's for Amen or DFS every game like this. Would love to see Eason or Jabari in the corner but we never play multiple floor spacers at the same time with Reed.

 

Reed doesn't start because Ime Udoka is coach.

We can debate Reed's pros and cons. It is interesting how certain players (Jabari) won't be yanked from the floor when going 2-for-18 and playing "I dare you to shoot....oops!" defense, but Reed can hit two three pointers....and be quickly subbed out. Often for, say, DFS's corpse.

Not a Reed apologist. Just saying.

 

I love Jabari, don't need to defend that.

It's possible he climbed over the average number in the past few games but I stated both at the bottom of his slump and the peak of his streak that I'll only be willing to keep him if he averages 38% on the season. There's been times Jabari finds himself barely above average at some point in the season so you'll understand if I don't fall for it again.

I'm going to give you a pass on that last comment because I like you, but you know full well he's been below average for weeks and his entire career so you're just trolling here. I've been defending Jabari since the day he was drafted till his slump in his 4th season (and you can check that for yourself). I have no motive for tearing him down.

If you're looking for a Jabari hater here, you're lost.

 

The Rockets need to keep things simple.

If Were Ime I'd get Amen & Reed in a room and tell both of them that the success of the team is riding with you. Start Reed the rest of the season to see what I have, They could actually share the ball handling duties depending on who's in the game. But let Reed run with that first five for the rest of the year and give him a long leash too see what the number 3 pick from last year can do. He might get comfortable and surprise.

Next I'd play Capela, Eason & Okogie off the bench and run those eight the rest of the way. Eason should be our primary 6th man. Simplify things.

They really need to run plays for Sengun & Durant, our two best offensive players (too much one on one pounding the ball), and let the other guys play off those two.

Play Amen as the ace defensive wing on D and as a forward on offense most of the time. Allow Reed to assume the ball handling duties and let him go. When running plays for Reed ( to take advantage of his shot) or if Reed is out let Amen run point.

If it falls apart, then assess what changes need to be made.

 

He just might be

 

It’s really simple. Ime is a defense wins championships coach. He doesn’t care about offense, he just wants to hold the opponent to under 100 pts and have good enough offense to score more. He can’t comprehend what great offense is. He needs to go. Bring in Mark Jackson, he started that whole Curry/Klay offense before Kerr took over.

 

Udoka is set in his ways on what are acceptable shortcomings are and what aren't.

At a certain point you have to use common sense and realize when something isn't good enough, and the starting unit we've been playing isn't. All 5 are fine individually, but there's just far too many offensive issues collectively playing multiple guys with shooting and ball handling shortcomings.

 

Because Ime is a dumbass.

DD

 

You lost us at "Mark Jackson". Mark Jackson did NOT start that offense. Like Udoka, he started the culture and defense. In the Warriors title runs they were exceptional defensively in the playoffs. Kerr had to carry over the defense and install the offense that suited the players he got. It's not a coincidence Mark Jackson has not gotten a job in the NBA while touting himself as the guy who built the whole thing - it's because no GM believes him.

We need our Kerr. Our Mazzulla. Ime's defense and tough culture has been great but it can be carried over.

 

If they keep throwing shade, we're going to make his nickname Mr Generational.

 

7 games won by reed (should be 9) this season

he’s everything udoka needs.

 

You know, some players may be a liability on offense. Like when you play with more than one player that cannot shoot from distance - then one of these players is definitely a liability as the opponent defenders just leave him wide open and force a TO on the player with the ball (which is easier when we don’t play with any natural pg). The benefit of what Reed can bring to our offense worths more than what we lose on our defense.
Some may claim that Jokic is a liability on defense too..

 

... and photoshop DD's face on all his pictures.

 

People keep saying we need someone to score off the bench for the 2nd unit. There's no 2nd unit per se. You don't sub in all five guys at the same time. If you have three shooters in the starting lineup, there's no reason you can't keep at least two of those guys on the floor the whole time.

 

This is a biased viewpoint and people see what they want to see. Holliday was subbed out in the Heat game immediately after a three point made. I have seen this with Tari as well. It’s commonplace for this in basketball since players are subbed out based on minutes they play or situational matchups etc.

 

i don’t understand the league average concept. Can you explain to me why league average is a good indicator of player performance? I explained that league avg needs to be taken with a grain of salt and caution people who keep citing it. Many stars shoot below “league avg” in threes or even 2’s. League avg takes into account every shot by every player. Unless you all are talking about league avg in forwards who play 30 min a game etc. Im curious to understand why league avg is so important.

 

Reed back to the bench on Thursday. Crazy..

 

I hadn't realized until looking it up just now how much better Reed has shot it as a bench player than as a starter this season. Off the bench he's shooting 43.3% from the field and 40.9% from three. As a starter he's shooting 41.4% from the field and 34.2% from three.

Some of this may be that he's kind of an afterthought when KD, Sengun, and Amen are all on the court with him. Fourth option stuff, not a lot of chance to get in rhythm. But I personally think the larger contributing factor is that he becomes visibly gassed when he plays too many minutes. His conditioning just isn't there yet to play 32mpg.

 

As of right now, Reed is more suitable coming off the bench. Our second unit needs an scorer and facilitator. The starters has enough scoring punch without Reed as long as they run more motion and not just isos. Whether he starts or not isn't the key here, it should be total minutes. He should get 25 plus minutes going forward. He does need some improvement on lateral quickness. One can't be small and slow and survive in NBA long term. The only positive from him starting is it takes the ball handling and initiator role away from KD.